I-beam clamp



March 25,1930. w. Q WEHR l Re.17,629

` I-BEAM CLAMP Original Filed Marh 11. 1927 Ressued Mar. ,25, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE WILLIAM G. WEER, OF EAST CLEVELAND, 01110,' ASSIGNOR TO THE CLEVELAND CRANE & ENGINEERING COMPANY, `I? WIGKLIFFE, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F OHIO I-BEAM CLAMP Original Io. 1,858,956, dated February 14, 1928, Serial No. 174,609, filed March 11, 1927. Application for reissue led January 13, 1930. Serial No. 420,619.

This invention relates' to4 iianged beam clamps for use generally tor suspension from I-beams and which is particularly useful for attaching flexible hangers for suspending s tracks for overhead carriers, the invention having for its object to provide a clamp for hangers which when'secured to the flanges of the beam is edectually held against creeping movement along the said flanges.

Suspended monorail and-other tracksfor overhead carriers are usually supported from the beams of the building in which .the track system is placed bv means of flexible hangers. Since there is considerable swaying of the hangers during the passage of carriers along the tracks there is a tendency for the hanger supports to creep along the beams to which they are attached. The creeping can be prevented by bolting the hanger supports to the beams but this method of attachment is obj ectionable by reason of the labor incident to the installation of the overhead, by reason of the fact that the bolt holes weaken the beams and by reason of the diiiculty incidental toshiftingthe position of the overhead trackway as is frequently desirable in practice. For this reason it has been common practice to employ .clamps in securing hangers to the beams but where clamps have been employed there has been considerable dithculty due to the creeping of the clamps along the ianges of the beams, making it necessary to frequently readjust theclamps to maintain the suspended track in proper alignment.

Itis the object of the present invention to provide a clamp which will so engage the flanges of the beam as to eectually resist the forces tending to move the same alongthe beam and-which will form a rigid anchor for the flexible track hanger. ,f

A further object is to provide a clamp which may be attached to iianged beams of various sizes.

With the above and other objects in view,

diameter than the bolt to permit the'bolt to swing 1n any direction. The hanger bolt 8 be apparent to one skilled in the art to which the invention appertains. T

f Reference should be had to the accompanying drawings forming apart of this specification in which:

Fig. 1 is a transverse section through a beam showing a clamp attached to the beam in side elevation. z Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the same clamp attached to a smaller I-beam.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the clamp.v `Fig. 4 is a. section taken on the line indicated at 4-1 in Fig. 2. ,Y

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the clamp includes a channel-shaped hanger bar l which has parallel side flanges whichA have straight edges adapted to engage the bottom of the beam which is here shown as an I-beam. The hanger bar 1 has wedgeshaped ends gradually increasing in depth toward the center of the bar, being provided with transversely rounded, inwardly inclined bottom portions 3 and 4: at the opposite ends. At the center of the bar there is a depressed seat 5 which has a central opening 6 and this 75 seat is adapted to support the rounded head 7 of a hanger bolt 8 which extends through the opening 6 which is of somewhat larger forms a support for a suspended track which may' be attached to the bolt in any suitable manner.

The hanger bar l is of uniform width from end to end and the inclined bottom portions 3 and 4 thereof are of uniform transverse curvature, and the bar 1 is adapted to be secured against the bottom of an I-bcarn by means of clips 9 which are U-shaped and formed to lit upon the exterior of the bar 1, the clips 9 having` inclined bottom portions 11 'fitting the inclined bottom portions 3 and 4 of the bar and having upwardly extending. sides l2 which overlie the ianges 2 of the bar. At their upper ends the sides 12 of the clips have inwardly extending integral projections or lugs 13 which are provided with inclined lower edges 14 which are adapted to tit and ride upon the top surfaces of the oppositely 100 extending lower flanges of an I-beam. Each of the clips 9 has a U-shapedattachment 15 upon the interior thereof and each of these attachments has vertical sides 16 which bear against the sides 12 of the clip and each of the sides 16 is provided with an outwardly extending lug 17 which extends through a notch 18 in the adjacent side 12 of the clip,

the notches 18 being in the flange engaging edge 14 of the clip and of the same depth as of the flanges 17 so that the flanges 17 are clamped against the top surfaces of the I- beam flanges when the clamp is secured to the I-beam. Eachr of the attachments l is provided with a downwardly projecting loop 19 which extends into the channel of the hanger bar 1, and these loops are adapted to j receive a bolt 20 which extends longitudinally clips 9 may be forced toward ea ch other.

When the clamp is applied to an I-beam the projections 13 of the clips' are placed in engagement with the flanges and the bolt 20 is rotated to draw the clips toward each other. During the inward movement of the clips the edges 14 engaging the upper surfaces of the beam flanges ltend to draw the clips and the hanger bar supported by the clips upwardly toward the beam, VAt the same time the inclined portions 11 of the e clips sliding on the inclined wedge portions 3 and 4 of the hanger bar crowd the hanger bar'upwardly toward the beam. When the chps are tightened the oppositely extending flanges of the I-beam are very tightly clamped between the projecting lugs ofthe cl1ps and the upper edge of the hanger bar by reason of the wedging action between the clips and the inclined top surfaces of the I- beam flanges and by reason of the wedging ac tion between the bottom portions 11 of the clip and the inclined bottom portions 3 of the hanger bar so that a heavy gripping pressure 1s exerted upon the I-beam flanges and 'the clamp is securely anchored against creeping movement along the I-beam. By

reason 'of the fact that the flange engaging portmns of the clips are gradually moved towardthe upper edge of the hanger bar as the clips are moved toward each other, the samev clamp may be applied to I-beams of widely different sizes. In Fig. 1 the clamp is shown applied to an I-beam of comparatively large size, and in Fig. 2 the same clam is shown applied to an I-beam of `much sma Aler size.

capable of' movement within the extremities of said bar, and means for drawing said clips together to grip the flanges of the beam between said inclined portions of the clips and said hanger bar., 't

2. A clamp for flanged beams comprising a hanger bar engageable with the bottom of a beam, and means for rigidly clamping said hanger bar to the beam comprising a pair of clips slidable on said bar and engageable with the upper faces of opposite flanges ofthe beam, and means independent of said bar for drawing said clips together; i

3. A clamp for flanged beams comprismg a hanger bar having an upper edge engageable with the bottom of a beam and outwardly tapering wedge-shaped ends, a pair of clips slidable on said bar, and movable inwardly beyond the ends thereof, each clip having'outwardly converging faces, one engageable with the top of the beam flange andV the other with a tapering end of said'hanger bar,and means for drawing said clips toward each other to clamp said hanger bar against the bottom of the beam.

4. A clamp 'for flanged beamscomprising a hanger bar having an upper edge engageable with the bottom of a beam and outwardly tapering' wedge-shaped ends, a pair of clips slidable on said bar and adapted for movement inwardly beyond the ends of the bar for engagement with flanges of different size beams, each clip having outwardly converging faces, one engageable with the top of the beam flange and theother with a tapering end of said hanger bar, and a bolt connecting said clips by which the clips may be drawn toward each other` to clamp the hanger bar against the bottom of the beam and to grip the flanges of the beam between the hanger bar and clips.

5. A clamp for flanged beams comprising a hanger bar adapted to engage'the ottom of a beam, a pairfof clips `slidably mounted on said bar and adapted for movement inwardly beyond the ends of the bar, `said clips being engageable with the inclined surfaces of the flanges of the beam, and means for simultaneously' moving saidcli s toward each other inwardly from the end) and angularly with respect to the' 'hanger bar to grip each flange of the beam between said han er bar and a clip.

6. A c amp for flanged beams comprising a hanger bar adapted to engage the outer surface of ya beam flange, a pair of clips adapted to engage the mclined surfaces of s" of said bar.

clips and bar having coacting guide portions which cause movement of the clips transverselyr of the bar upon longitudinal movement of said clips, and means connecting 5 said clips for simultaneously moving them toward each other and transversely with respect to the bar to grip the flanges of the beam between the clips and bar.

7. A clamp for flanged beams comprising lo a channel-shaped hanger bar having straight edges at its open side adapted to engage the bottom of a beam, clips slidable uponv opposite end portions of said bar, said clips having portions engageable with the top surfaces of opposite flanges of the beam and portions em bracing said hanger bar, said clips also having portions projecting into the channel of said hanger bar, and a bolt connecting said projecting portions of the clips. 8. A clamp for flanged beams comprising a channel-shaped hanger bar having straight edges at its open side adapted to engage the bottom of a beam, said bar having wedgeshaped ends increasing in de th toward the center of the bar, U-shape clips slidable V upon the opposite ends of the hanger bar,

said clips having bottom lportions lnclined to conform to the inclined bottom portionsv of the hanger bar and having inwardly projecting lugs at their upper ends engageable with the top surfaces of the beam flanges, each clip having a portion extending into the channel of the hanger bar, and a bolt within the channel connectin said extendse ing portions of the clips to raw said clips together.

9. A clamp for flan ed beams comprising a hanger bar adapte to engage the outer. surface of a beam ange, a pair of clips hav- 40 ing portions adapted to have a wedgm engagement with the inclined surfaces 0% the beam flanges and ortions in wedging enffagement with said) hanger bar, and means y for drawing said clips together inwardly beyond the ends of said bar to Urip the anges of the beam between the iiinge engaging portions of the clips and the hanger bar.

In testimony whereof,"I hereunto aix my signature. WILLIAM G. WEHR. 

